Smartbike advice please
Discussion
I have been using a Wahoo Kickr Core for the last 18 months or so and I'm 15000km in, so it has seen some use. It does need to go for repair as it has a fluctuating power output and I've been trying to work out how to not be turboless for the duration when it goes back as I lead on Zwift (I can get these covered).
Could be an excuse for an upgrade though!
My wife has been showing an interest in wanting to get a smart bike, but we don't have space to have a turbo and a smart set up, so why not have one that works for us both?
I've read lots of reviews and comparisons, but I still don't have a firm direction to go in and there is more than £1000 difference between them all. Initially I was looking at the Wattbike, but that seems to lack features, then the Wahoo as I tend to be brand loyal, but its really expensive. Someone mentioned the Stages bike the other night and now I just don't have a clue.
I'm looking for real world experience, hopefully someone has tested a couple?
Could be an excuse for an upgrade though!
My wife has been showing an interest in wanting to get a smart bike, but we don't have space to have a turbo and a smart set up, so why not have one that works for us both?
I've read lots of reviews and comparisons, but I still don't have a firm direction to go in and there is more than £1000 difference between them all. Initially I was looking at the Wattbike, but that seems to lack features, then the Wahoo as I tend to be brand loyal, but its really expensive. Someone mentioned the Stages bike the other night and now I just don't have a clue.
I'm looking for real world experience, hopefully someone has tested a couple?
If you are buying one for family use a Peloton bike is hard to beat. We've had one for 2 months now, I was all set to send it back within the 30day returns policy but actually am finding it fab.
Am using it nearly every day, sometimes twice a day. Currently am trying to force my self to take rest days as my legs are pretty fatigued.
More amazingly my wife has used it just as much as me, maybe even more as she does the 'soft' stuff like Yoga and stretches etc.
The USP of Peloton really is the classes and instructor, for me they have hit the perfect balance of been entertaining but also make you want to do some proper exercise.
Than there is marketing stuff, like doing a 'live' session with Usain Bolt....along with nearly 5000 others. To be honest though I couldn't work out what the instructor was going on about in that session it was more fun to watch the Bolt icon move up the leader board every time there was a 'push' interval.
It's all a bit of fun, which is great as you don't even realise how much actual exercise you have done.
Am using it nearly every day, sometimes twice a day. Currently am trying to force my self to take rest days as my legs are pretty fatigued.
More amazingly my wife has used it just as much as me, maybe even more as she does the 'soft' stuff like Yoga and stretches etc.
The USP of Peloton really is the classes and instructor, for me they have hit the perfect balance of been entertaining but also make you want to do some proper exercise.
Than there is marketing stuff, like doing a 'live' session with Usain Bolt....along with nearly 5000 others. To be honest though I couldn't work out what the instructor was going on about in that session it was more fun to watch the Bolt icon move up the leader board every time there was a 'push' interval.
It's all a bit of fun, which is great as you don't even realise how much actual exercise you have done.
Have you read any of DCRainmaker's reviews? Excellent & I think he's reviewed all the options
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.
I have read DCR's reviews and there didn't seem to be anything conclusive about which way to jump. They all seem to do what they are meant to do at the price point they are being sold at, but I just wonder that if I go for a Wattbike I'll kick myself for not having the ability to program gears and the basic switchgear and lever set up that won't allow for further upgrades/changes with updated firmware. I've heard that there are issues with slippage of the seat post too which I would assume will only get worse the more it is adjusted?
Peloton is great at what it does, but it is not for us. I am a firm Zwifter and my wife wants to go back to doing Les Mills spin classes.
I nearly pulled the trigger on the Stages SB20 at the weekend, but there is just that hesitation of spending £2800 and getting it wrong! I will be able to sell my Wahoo setup to recover a chunk of the costs, but it is still very much a considered purchase.
I have read DCR's reviews and there didn't seem to be anything conclusive about which way to jump. They all seem to do what they are meant to do at the price point they are being sold at, but I just wonder that if I go for a Wattbike I'll kick myself for not having the ability to program gears and the basic switchgear and lever set up that won't allow for further upgrades/changes with updated firmware. I've heard that there are issues with slippage of the seat post too which I would assume will only get worse the more it is adjusted?
Peloton is great at what it does, but it is not for us. I am a firm Zwifter and my wife wants to go back to doing Les Mills spin classes.
I nearly pulled the trigger on the Stages SB20 at the weekend, but there is just that hesitation of spending £2800 and getting it wrong! I will be able to sell my Wahoo setup to recover a chunk of the costs, but it is still very much a considered purchase.
frisbee said:
Someone I work with has a Wattbike and he's waiting for it to be fixed.
Someone on here had a Kickr bike but disappeared after someone caught him out weight doping, he seemed pretty pleased with it.
A few people on here have peloton bikes and do rate it.
He's still here, different username ;-)Someone on here had a Kickr bike but disappeared after someone caught him out weight doping, he seemed pretty pleased with it.
A few people on here have peloton bikes and do rate it.
I’ve got a kickr bike and love it. Got it setup as etap with same gearing I use outside. Use it with fulgaz a lot and feels very easy to ride out of the saddle compared to my old wattbike pro and a Neo. Only downside is the perceived reliability issues. I’ve only had an issue with slipping handlebars but have got a new Neo, warranty replacement, waiting for when the inevitable happens.
lufbramatt said:
frisbee said:
Someone I work with has a Wattbike and he's waiting for it to be fixed.
Someone on here had a Kickr bike but disappeared after someone caught him out weight doping, he seemed pretty pleased with it.
A few people on here have peloton bikes and do rate it.
He's still here, different username ;-)Someone on here had a Kickr bike but disappeared after someone caught him out weight doping, he seemed pretty pleased with it.
A few people on here have peloton bikes and do rate it.
sebdangerfield said:
lufbramatt said:
frisbee said:
Someone I work with has a Wattbike and he's waiting for it to be fixed.
Someone on here had a Kickr bike but disappeared after someone caught him out weight doping, he seemed pretty pleased with it.
A few people on here have peloton bikes and do rate it.
He's still here, different username ;-)Someone on here had a Kickr bike but disappeared after someone caught him out weight doping, he seemed pretty pleased with it.
A few people on here have peloton bikes and do rate it.
Japcreation said:
Good spot, although I did look on the Wahoo website yesterday and didn't see!!
I have just ordered a Kickr bike (recon) for £2550!!!
Let us know how you get on with it. I was tempting myself a little before the sale but want to be more confident of the purchase for this sort of money (and difficulty selling it on).I have just ordered a Kickr bike (recon) for £2550!!!
lufbramatt said:
Claimed he'd done 30000kms in a year or something. Turned out most of it was duplicated rides and Zwift stuff where he'd put a child's weight in to make it go faster for a given power output.
He is/was an odd character, absolutely no need to lie to a bunch of strangers on the Internet. He was actually a decent cyclistTrif said:
Japcreation said:
Good spot, although I did look on the Wahoo website yesterday and didn't see!!
I have just ordered a Kickr bike (recon) for £2550!!!
Let us know how you get on with it. I was tempting myself a little before the sale but want to be more confident of the purchase for this sort of money (and difficulty selling it on).I have just ordered a Kickr bike (recon) for £2550!!!
Teebs said:
lufbramatt said:
Claimed he'd done 30000kms in a year or something. Turned out most of it was duplicated rides and Zwift stuff where he'd put a child's weight in to make it go faster for a given power output.
He is/was an odd character, absolutely no need to lie to a bunch of strangers on the Internet. He was actually a decent cyclistLooking forward to hearing your initial and longer term thoughts. I am still on the fence but am getting on reasonably well with the basic Wattbikes at the gym and seeing good improvements with the limited time I do spend on it.
Did you use Klarna? The decision on this is currently putting my savings targets on hold as I have a few other needed purchases over the next 3 months and I wouldn't mind beldning the two needs/wants.
Did you use Klarna? The decision on this is currently putting my savings targets on hold as I have a few other needed purchases over the next 3 months and I wouldn't mind beldning the two needs/wants.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff